Tuesday, August 31, 2010

a few posts ago, i wrote about K and me taking the fitness plunge....lets just say that i have played truant for more than a month...managing just a few days of free hand exercises and some yoga... but overall have lost about 4kgs and put back 1 on cos of all the feasting (with guests at home its tough to convince them why the host is going to eat salad!). so instead of whipping myself about slacking off, i am reaffirming, rescheduling my goals and moving on ahead....

but i came here to document K's awesome determination, hardwork and results.... he did the math...and he has the determination of a nazi.... gym may not have been such a regular feature this past month, but badminton is...and he is playing 5 times a week.... he's lost what i can say are results only slimming centres can give you! and i am amazed! in awe and with respect for anyone who can stay that focussed.... yes ...even my husband...cos we always look at the flaws...he stumped me! yet again. I've known him half of my life, and i am still shocked....i never thought he'd get this far! he's inspired me totally now! and i think it just reinforced what i wrote in the last post about me not getting thru many points in life if he wasnt by my side!

ok...this was supposed to not be mushy! so i shall stop...cant wait to head over to the balcony where my now much lighter husband awaits me groggy eyed! have a lovely day you all.

Friday, August 27, 2010

do you believe that the people in your life are there for a reason? and so is the case with the ones that aren't there are also there for a reason? I do...

I've been thinking a lot of the people in my life...the ones that are still there, some I've grown closer to, some I've kept at arm's length. Some have amazed me by what they can do with their lives, taught me lessons on how to follow your heart and be brave....some have taught me the same lessons with examples of what not to do....

i told K this morning that i would have broken in mind and spirit many times in life, if he wasn't by my side. and today was one of the days when i truly thanked god for his presence..... he's been my pillar of strength, my fiercest ally and most honest critic. there are times when only he has the balls to tell it like it is and although at that moment i may feel like crushing his head, i'd not have it any other way!

the friends who call me beautiful when i want to cry after getting onto the weighing scales, the ones who tell me i can do anything i ever want to .... the ones who encourage me, silently and with gentle chiding.... the ones who will grow old with me and always be there in my life no matter which part of the world we live in....

the ones who with their nastiness and highhandedness made me rejoice that i am not them....the ones who taught me how great it is to be humble, which doesnt necessarily mean that you are a doormat, the ones who have made me thank my upbringing and everything else that doesnt make me fake or false....

the ones who have truly earned my admiration and respect, the ones who lost it because their masks fell, they all make my life richer...thank you!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

what is it about power or importance that makes you feel like you can get away with anything? on friday, along with a couple of friends, i went for what i thought would be a ghazal performance in an intimate setting. there is this place that serves as a platform for artists and for the encouragement of art and literature called lamakaan in hyd. Its a nice old bungalow that's being used. the idea behind it is very unique and it strives to be not for profit...the patrons are pretty well connected in the literati circles and i guess its a double edged sword...you need to be known to bring people / performers of repute....and that in turn attracts the literati ....

anyways...in true hyderabadi style, people began to assemble a little after 30 mins of the scheduled time on a really rainy evening...the artist came in almost an hour late and began singing right away... what appalled me was however the crowd behaviour... if you want to continue to talk...rather loudly and with obvious disrespect, dont sit in a mehfil....everyone..including the patron saint of the place, his wife and particularly his son, were jabbering non stop... mundane things... like where to put additional chairs...and asking people to make more room, and the kid was busy kicking people...or exclaiming loudly after every game won on the phone he was playing with.... the singing was totally the sideshow....if you wanted that...then why do thru the pain of inviting a maestro albeit who is in the autumn of his career? if the person who is supposed to lead by example does this, naturally us herds will follow... so whether it was inquiring where a dress was purchased or dinner was eaten had to happen there! i was so disgusted, i walked out after 3 songs...the sham went on for about an hour more i think...

the portico of the place had a light fixture inside which were trapped many (now dead) critters including a lizard... kind of symbolic of what that place will become i guess....

saturday was fabulous... i had a very fun chocolate making class after a long time... in the evening, the gym proved to be a pain in the neck and so was the effing instructor...who tried to bend my back into submission and when i said i have a bad back, tried to tell me, i would not lose weight unless i did what he told me... who does 45 reps of 10 exercises on day one? who makes these guys fitness instructors? working out in a damp shirt gave me fever by the night and on sunday i was in bed the whole day... watched reruns of friends... but i'd have gladly done that minus the fever....

my brand new shiny camera hasnt still gotten to me... i am tentatively taking pictures which arent very good! i need to learn the basic settings atleast!

yesterday my cousins dropped in... i made some snacks as i wasnt sure if dinner would be suitable... fake mutton shikampuri kebabs that the hardcore carnivores couldnt make out were made of soy nuggets! K sank his teeth into them with relish till i told him it was fake! you should have seen his face! i had a fun time...and i miss those times when we just gathered at family get togethers and hung out! now we have to plan...for weeks!

its still pleasant weather in hyd minus the rains... road and drainage work in the lane continues at snailspace...so more slush and kitchad for a while i guess....